Olympics menu to include dog's brain' soup

{image-dogs soup_05082008.jpg www.oneindia.com}London, Aug.5 : Olympic hopefuls are likely to get a shock if they choose to have a Chinese meal in Beijing. They could end being served dog brain soup.

Athletes and tourists are also likely to be offered pans full of seahorse skewers, cow and horse stew, dung beetles, donkey penis and silk worms, all seen as "tasty" takeaway treats in the streets of the Chinese capital, reports the Daily Express. Some of China's favourite foods include dog brain soup and dog livers with vegetables. A whole roasted puppy with coriander and flowers is another delicacy, as also the ovarian fat of a snow frog.

The Chinese believe certain animals' limbs and organs have medicinal properties. Seahorses are said to be good for men's virility, crustaceans good for women's skin and dried ants sprinkled on food good for rheumatism.

More than half-a-million visitors are expected in Beijing over the next three weeks.

For fish lovers, there's starfish fried in shark oil or sea urchins. There are also skinned and deep-fried lizards and rabbit heads.